Free Harvest, Quietus #1 by Shauna King

PROLOGUE
    Miami, Florida.
    08.08.2018 05.30
a.m.
    His phone rang, shocking him out of
sleep. He looked at the caller and sighed. He knew exactly what she
was calling about. And it wasn't to wish him a good day. It was a
good job his dad was on his side or else today's special event
wouldn't be happening.
    “ Morning Mom. What's up?” he said with false
cheer.
    “ James darling, I know you won't want to hear this, but I
have a dreadful feeling about today. And have you seen the date?
It's one of those days... a number sign or something like that,
anyway, it's a bad omen... what with that and my daily horoscope,
it says, I quote, to avoid risks where you can... you shouldn't
go.”
    Annoyance rose inside him. He had to
hand it to her, she'd go to any lengths to stop him, to spoil
things.
    He knew how special Evelyn was. She
nearly died twice as a baby. But his mom was far too protective of
her. She stifled her. He knew Evelyn felt imprisoned, like a
princess in an ivory tower, and she needed some escape. He
suspected his mom was the main reason why Evelyn had started to
rebel so badly.
    His mother was controlling and
manipulative and always had to have things done her way. He
understood exactly why his dad had left her eight years ago. It
hadn't been any kind of shock. James himself had escaped as soon as
he could, moving away to Miami, to be rid of her overpowering,
intefering presence in his life.
    “ The date and whatever else has nothing to
do with it... and you know it. You're just desperate for
excuses. For crissakes , chill out, will you? I'm not doing anything I
haven't done dozens of times. I'll be very careful, follow all
safety procedures to the Nth degree, and I'm doing a real easy
one... real easy... you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Evie will be safer than she is lying in her bed, I promise you.” He
tried to reassure her as he had done many times over the last few
months. Although it all fell on deaf ears. The risk levels they
were undertaking were very low. Almost miniscule. At least his dad
understood that.
    “ But Evelyn's so young... far too young for this type of
activity, what the hell are you thinking?” his mother
persisted.
    “ Mom, I'm not doing this anymore.” His eyes
strayed to his bedside clock. Jesus...five thirty? “Go back to sleep, and stop
worrying about nothing.”
    “ Sleep? You think I can sleep when my baby is in danger.
Can't you take her surfing, to the movies, shopping... anything
else... please...? James, I'm begging you... don't do this. Today
will end badly. I know it will... I know... listen to
me...”
    “ Mother. That is quite enough. Stop
it !” He
barked down the phone. She sounded almost hysterical. It was
ridiculous.
    “ Don't you speak to me like that! You just
don't care, do you? You only ever think about
yourself. You and that job and all your money and your goddamn car ...”
    “ Okay, okay!! I'm a selfish bastard. I'm turning my
cell off now. Speak later. You have a nice day.” He ended the call
before he blew his top.
    This wasn't the way he wanted his day
to start. With another awful row with his mom.
    He pushed his mother from his mind
before guilt and paranoia started to sink into him, like she'd
planned. He hated thinking it, but she really was a prize bitch at
times. But she was right in some respects. He was selfish. He did
worship money. He enjoyed buying himself expensive
things.
    He lay quietly, gazing at his clock,
dozing on and off and watching the minutes turn over. At six
thirty, the alarm sounded, and the radio came on, like usual. He
stretched and took a deep breath. As the feeling ebbed back into
his body, he threw back the duvet and rolled himself up.
    After washing and dressing in loose, comfortable clothes,
he entered the kitchen where he made both himself and his sister
Evelyn some coffee and toast and honey. Then he carried her
breakfast to his spare room, where she was still fast asleep. Her
long mass of dark hair was